This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

GMO LABELING DEBATE is coming to Illinois, HELP! GET INVOLVED!

George Fabyan, Neighbor
|

HELP!  LOOK UP WHO THE LOCAL STATE SENATORS ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT AND CALL THEM. TELL THEM YOU WANT THEM TO CO-SPONSOR SB1666. YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE AND A VOICE, USE IT TO CHANGE THE WORLD! DO IT NOW!

California Right to Know bill was defeated by big business. Illinois will probably suffer the same fate unless we speak up. Contact your local state rep and ask if they have co-sponsored Senate Bill 1666. Only 19 of 59 state senate members have co-sponsored the bill. 

Senate Members That have not co-sponsored SB-1666 are listed below along with phone numbers. PLEASE CALL ALL OF THEM 

Michael E. Hastings (708) 283-4125

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Linda Holmes 630) 770-7912

Toi W.Hutchinson 708.756.0882

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mike Jacobs (309) 797-0001

Emil Jones, III (773) 995-7748

David Koehler (309) 677-0120 

Darin M. LaHood 815-872-1964

Steven M. Landek (708) 430-2510

Pamela J. Althoff 815-455-6330

Jason A Barickman 309-661-2788

Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant 815-254-4211

Daniel Biss 847-568-1250

Tim Bivins 815-233-0037

William E. Brady 217-782-6216

James F Clayborne 618-875-1212

Michael Connelly 630-682-8101

Thomas Cullerton 630-903-6662

Kirk W. Dillard 630-969-0990

Dan Duffy 847-277-7100

Gary Forby 618-465-4764

Michael W. Frerichs 217-442-5252

William R. Haine 618-465-4764

Kimberly A. Lightford 708.343.7444

David S. Luechtefeld 618-243-9014

Andy Manar (618) 635-2583

Sam Mccann 217-245-0050

Kyle McCarter (217) 428-4068

Karen Mcconnaughay 847-214-8245

Pat McGuire 815.207.4445

Jim Oberweis (630) 800-1992

Christine Radogno 630-243-0800

Kwame Raoul (773) 363-1996

Sue Rezin (815) 220-8720

Dale A. Righter (217) 235-6033

Chapin Rose (217) 607-1853

Steve Stadelman (815) 987-7557

John M. Sullivan (217) 222-2295

Dave Syverson (815) 987-7555

Donne E. Trotter (773) 933-7715    

This spring, Illinois legislators will face the issue of whether the state should require labels on foods that have been "entirely or partially produced with genetic engineering."

The lawmakers will have a difficult time separating the wheat from the chaff on an issue that is generating increased interest nationally, much to the chagrin of Monsanto and a handful of companies that control the hybrid seed market.

There is no middle ground in the debate between the "naturalists" and the big seed companies over the touted evils and virtues, respectively, of genetically modified organisms.

State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, has introduced SB1666, the Illinois GMO labeling bill. An inactive United Church of Christ minister and former owner of an organic bakery, Koehler is trying to frame the issue around the consumers' right to know rather than to the contentious science that swirls around the topic.

GMOs in Europe has caused the European Union to ban GMO foods. Today it is virtually impossible to find GMOs in European supermarkets.

In the past two years, voters narrowly defeated labeling referendums in California and Washington state, yet lawmakers in Connecticut and Maine passed bills in June that require labeling on all foods made from GMOs. Twenty states, like Illinois, are considering the issue.


Should we encourage our state reps to vote for GMO labeling on products? 

Do you want to know what your eating? 

Please support this petition, the link is below. We have two separate petitions. One petition will not be enough to make a dent, two is hardly scratching the surface. But it is a start. Cheers 

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/gmo-labeling-in-illinois-1

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/illinois-needs-gmo-labeling


The organization in support is "California Right to Know" and the organization against is "NO Prop. 37, Stop the Deceptive Food Labeling Scheme". As of November 6, 2012, the total donations to each side were $9.2 million in support, and $46 million in opposition. The top 10 donors to each side are as follows:

SupportersOpponents
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Barrington